Summer cruising season begins: Here are the cruise ships arriving in Sydney

In October Radiance of the Seas will be the first Royal Caribbean ship to return to Australia, marking the line's 10th local season. The line will have four ships sailing from Sydney – Ovation of the Seas, Explorer of the Seas, Voyager of the Seas and Radiance of the Seas – offering 76 cruises ranging from two to 23 nights. See royalcaribbean.com.au

SHORE THING

THE PORT Southampton, UK

WHO GOES THERE Celebrity, Cunard, Fred Olsen Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, P&O Cruises, Princess, Regent Seven Seas, Royal Caribbean, Saga Cruises, Silversea

WHY WE LOVE IT Apart from the fact that it is one of the busiest ports in Europe, it has a rich maritime history. It's within easy reach of the New Forest, the cathedral city of Winchester and although it's not the most beautiful port the city has plenty of attractions. It is about 1½ hours by train to London.

TAKE A TOUR OR GO IT ALONE? Cruise ships dock at one of four terminals and it's best to take a taxi to the city centre. Companies such as Tours by Locals organise day trips to Highclere House (Downton Abbey), Windsor Castle, the New Forest and Stonehenge; or you can do self-guided walking tours of Southampton. There are three trails with maps you can download from the visitor website (see Essentials, below). Southampton Old Town, along England's third-longest stretch of medieval town walls; QE2 Mile, the pedestrian route that links the city's parks, new cultural quarter, shopping high street, old town and waterfront; and the Titanic Trail, which takes you around some of the memorials and locations associated with Titanic.

MUST SEE SeaCity Museum, which has an interactive model of the Titanic; 15th-century Tudor House and gardens; Solent Sky Museum, for vintage aircraft.

MUST EAT Southampton has eateries ranging from fine-dining restaurants to budget Greek, Indian, Italian and Thai joints. Check out the Good Pub guide website to find a local alehouse that serves pub grub or sophisticated gastro-pub fare.

NEED TO KNOW You can store luggage pre or post cruise and find tourist info at a shop called Oceans in High Street, QE2 Mile. It is open seven days a week; see oceanssouthampton.com [oceanssouthampton.com]

CRUISE SCEPTIC

MYTH: I will be seasick.

REALITY: Big modern ships have efficient stabilisers that radically reduce the motion of the ocean. If you get car-sick, best to stock up on seasick remedies – just in case.

NEWS

Big-ship Bliss

Norwegian Cruise Line's 16th ship, Norwegian Bliss, is in the same mould as its recently launched sister Norwegian Joy – which is sailing mostly in China – but it can now claim the title of the biggest ship in the fleet in terms of gross tonnage. It's due to set sail in June 2018, carrying just over 4000 passengers to Alaska, the Mexican Riviera and the Caribbean. Among its many attractions is the largest race track at sea – electric cars race up to 48 kilometres an hour over a 305-metre long, two-level track. Luckily for non-racing passengers the cars are silent but in-helmet sound effects when you drive them are convincingly realistic. Other high-octane activities include an open-air laser tag course and multi-storey waterslides. See au.bliss.ncl.com

Base Camp Baja

Lindblad Expeditions is the latest cruise company to announce a wellbeing program – this one kicks off with a series of three- and four-day sailings in the Sea of Cortez, a narrow stretch of sea between the Mexican mainland and the Baja California peninsula. Jacques Cousteau once described the Sea of Cortez as the "world's aquarium" and Lindblad's Base Camp Baja voyages will explore the region's Espiritu Santo and Isla Partida on the 62-passenger National Geographic Sea Bird. Seven Base Camp Baja departures that feature a program developed by US company Exhale are planned between December 2017 and January 2018. As well as snorkelling with sea lions and kayaking along deserted bays and beaches, a range of meditation, yoga and massage sessions are on offer. See au.expeditions.com